htedder1 Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Saw this story and wanted to post it. Perhaps we need a forum called "GPS in the news" http://www.rednova.com/news/stories/3/2003/09/08/story005.html Quote Link to comment
+Doc-Dean Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Somebody already beat you to it! Markwell --------------------------------------------------- Free your mind and the rest will follow Quote Link to comment
+TEAM 360 Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 From the article: "It's not intended to spy on the drivers", Metzler added. "It's kind of hard to hide in a 35,000-pound green and white garbage truck with the city of Charleston seal on it," he said. "It has nothing to do with that. It's not that they are being watched, it just allows us to more efficiently run routes." Yea, sure. Uh huh. Quote Link to comment
+jeff35080 Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Yea, sure. Uh huh. It really does help with efficiency. CAD (computer assisted dispatching) has worked wonders for the public service sector. In terms of law enforcement, it allows a dispatcher to send the closest unit to a call, regardless of beat lines and I can see how it could also be used to help improve the efficiency of waste removal units. It does take some getting-used-to the fact that you are quasi-being-watched, but once used to it, it's no big deal. Jeff http://www.StarsFellOnAlabama.com http://www.NotAChance.com If you hide it, they will come.... Quote Link to comment
+TEAM 360 Posted September 9, 2003 Share Posted September 9, 2003 Oh, don't get me wrong, I am sure they are "increasing efficiency". I just don't like the fact that someone who is trying to work hard to support his family is treated no better than a prisoner with an electronic ankle collar, even if only for 8 hours a day. Now, if the tracking program was to be a TEMPORARY thing, to establish better routes and avoid heavy traffic patterns, I wouldn't feel so strongly about it. So they need to get another truck out there? Use the RADIO and call for one. Permanent implementation of this program is nothing but an expensive high-tech excuse to spy on workers. I just don't personally care for this idea. Quote Link to comment
+Mr. 0 Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 So would this be like one big CITO....every day all day? Mr. 0 "Remember that nature and the elements are neither your friend or your enemy - they are actually disinterested." Department of the Army Field Manual FM 21-76 "Survival" Oct. 1970 Quote Link to comment
+Doc-Dean Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by TEAM 360:Oh, don't get me wrong, I am sure they are "increasing efficiency". I just don't like the fact that someone who is trying to work hard to support his family is treated no better than a prisoner with an electronic ankle collar, even if only for 8 hours a day. Now, if the tracking program was to be a TEMPORARY thing, to establish better routes and avoid heavy traffic patterns, I wouldn't feel so strongly about it. So they need to get another truck out there? Use the RADIO and call for one. Permanent implementation of this program is nothing but an expensive high-tech excuse to spy on workers. I just don't personally care for this idea. I know the idea of spying on someone seems distasteful HOWEVER, if these people are being paid to work then I don't have a problem with someone making sure they are working and not goofing off somewhere (ie local "TT" bar). I had a summer job back in college for a major soda distributor and most of the regular employees had elevated goofing off to an art form! Besides when it comes to something like public services, they are being paid with money collected from taxes, YOUR TAXES and since I don't get paid for goofing off, I don't want to see others doing it either! --------------------------------------------------- Free your mind and the rest will follow Quote Link to comment
dsandbro Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 quote: In terms of law enforcement, it allows a dispatcher to send the closest unit to a call, regardless of beat lines and I can see how it could also be used to help improve the efficiency of waste removal units. .... Been used in fire departments for a number of years. Combined with GIS routing software and street traffic sensors a dispatcher can send the fastest unit, which may or may not be the closest. =========================================================== "The time has come" the Walrus said "to speak of many things; of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and Kings". Quote Link to comment
Pantalaimon Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by TEAM 360:Oh, don't get me wrong, I am sure they are "increasing efficiency". I just don't like the fact that someone who is trying to work hard to support his family is treated no better than a prisoner with an electronic ankle collar, even if only for 8 hours a day. Now, if the tracking program was to be a TEMPORARY thing, to establish better routes and avoid heavy traffic patterns, I wouldn't feel so strongly about it. So they need to get another truck out there? Use the RADIO and call for one. Permanent implementation of this program is nothing but an expensive high-tech excuse to spy on workers. I just don't personally care for this idea. What's wrong with knowing where a government owned garbage truck is at all times? Even if they are using it to "spy on the drivers," they are either doing what they should be or not. If they are not, and they find out because of this system, I'm not opposed. What are the privacy rights with regards to location of a government employee while on duty? What possible right could be infringed upon here. Of course, there will always be the obligatory "slippery slope, soon there will be GPS chips inserted into the brains of every child" argument. But this is a step down the slope with which I have no problem. Pan What does anybody want? I want the Red Sox to win the World Series. - Bill Pullman as Alan Safian in Malice, in response to being asked "What do you want?" Quote Link to comment
+TEAM 360 Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 I wonder how many people posted to this thread while they are at work? Does your boss know that you are surfing geocaching.com while on the clock? Maybe the supervisor there should install a program to track the websites visited, in order to increase efficiency. Just playing devils advocate here. Quote Link to comment
georapper Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Pantalaimon: quote:Originally posted by TEAM 360:Oh, don't get me wrong, I am sure they are "increasing efficiency". I just don't like the fact that someone who is trying to work hard to support his family is treated no better than a prisoner with an electronic ankle collar, even if only for 8 hours a day. Now, if the tracking program was to be a TEMPORARY thing, to establish better routes and avoid heavy traffic patterns, I wouldn't feel so strongly about it. So they need to get another truck out there? Use the RADIO and call for one. Permanent implementation of this program is nothing but an expensive high-tech excuse to spy on workers. I just don't personally care for this idea. What's wrong with knowing where a government owned garbage truck is at all times? Even if they are using it to "spy on the drivers," they are either doing what they should be or not. If they are not, and they find out because of this system, I'm not opposed. What are the privacy rights with regards to location of a government employee while on duty? What possible right could be infringed upon here. Of course, there will always be the obligatory "slippery slope, soon there will be GPS chips inserted into the brains of every child" argument. But this is a step down the slope with which I have no problem. Pan _What does anybody want? I want the Red Sox to win the World Series._ - Bill Pullman as Alan Safian in Malice, in response to being asked "What do you want?" as always, you are right on every point. i couldn't agree with you more? Creativity Within The Bounds Of Conformity Quote Link to comment
Pantalaimon Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by TEAM 360:I wonder how many people posted to this thread while they are at work? Does your boss know that you are surfing geocaching.com while on the clock? Maybe the supervisor there should install a program to track the websites visited, in order to increase efficiency. Just playing devils advocate here. Well, if this is the devil's argument, from his advocate, then I agree with the devil. The devil knows that it would cut down on my unproductivity at work. I see nothing wrong with installing a system to monitor your workers' web use. Pan What does anybody want? I want the Red Sox to win the World Series. - Bill Pullman as Alan Safian in Malice, in response to being asked "What do you want?" Quote Link to comment
+woof n lulu Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by TEAM 360:I wonder how many people posted to this thread while they are at work? Does your boss know that you are surfing geocaching.com while on the clock? Maybe the supervisor there should install a program to track the websites visited, in order to increase efficiency. Just playing devils advocate here. You would be surprised how many companies do keep track. They might not use the information right away, but if you leave under less then favorable circumstances, it can be used again you for any claims you might lodge against them. People just dont realize in how many different ways they are being kept track of, take the little micro computer installed in a percentage of cars now. Do 10 miles over the speed limit and have an accident, and you might find your insurance company not paying because they can use this little tidbit as an out. But on the upside....sure am glad I have a GPS & cell phone just in case something happens while caching...at least I will know where I am and can call the coordinates for rescue. Thankfully falling off a mountain does not change the coordinates much, only the altitude and attitude... Quote Link to comment
+MaxEntropy Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 The answers are: Yes * They do. They track every web site visited and have made it clear when you can play and where you cannot go while using the office's systems. * Just three minutes left until lunch is over. quote:Originally posted by TEAM 360:I wonder how many people posted to this thread while they are at work? Does your boss know that you are surfing geocaching.com while on the clock? Maybe the supervisor there should install a program to track the websites visited, in order to increase efficiency. Just playing devils advocate here. Mickey Max Entropy More than just a name, a lifestyle. Quote Link to comment
+Doc-Dean Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by TEAM 360:I wonder how many people posted to this thread while they are at work? Does your boss know that you are surfing geocaching.com while on the clock? Maybe the supervisor there should install a program to track the websites visited, in order to increase efficiency. Just playing devils advocate here. That is completely within their rights to do so. Even to punish or fire someone for doing it. With or without a warning. Fortunately, I am my own boss! --------------------------------------------------- Free your mind and the rest will follow Quote Link to comment
+TEAM 360 Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Doc-Dean:Even to punish or fire someone for doing it. With or without a warning. At-will employment sucks. I know. Personally. Quote Link to comment
+RomadPilot Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 If you work for yourself, can you fire yourself for surfing the net when you should be working? How can you fire others for something you do yourself! Quote Link to comment
+Doc-Dean Posted September 10, 2003 Share Posted September 10, 2003 The difference is that I don't get a salary, I make what I earn. So if I am spending time on the internet, then it is coming out of my pocket. My employees are paid to work and to maintain an expected amount of productivity. They are allowed to use the internet with reasonable rules (on their own time though). I am not gonna bust chops over someone checking their email but if they are having an all day IM session with others or getting too distracted from their work, then I have a problem. --------------------------------------------------- Free your mind and the rest will follow Quote Link to comment
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